SOLUTION for Windows Firewall not running

[Juan]

PROBLEM
Windows cannot start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
service.

SOLUTION
Perform the following steps in XP SP2 if you get the above message when
trying to activate its new firewall.

1) Reset the Winsock.
a) Go to the command prompt.
b) Type the command "Netsh winsock reset" (without the quotes), and press
ENTER.
c) This won't take effect until after you re-boot in step 4.

2) Install and run a spyware-removal program.
Some spyware won't let you activate your firewall, for obvious reasons.
Spybot Search & Destroy and Lavasoft's Ad-Aware are recommended.

3) Make sure the ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) service is set to
start automatically.
a) Go to the Control Panel.
b) Double-click "Administrative Tools".
c) Double-click "Services".
d) Scroll to the bottom of the list; double-click "Windows
Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)"
e) Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic.
f) Click Apply, if needed.
g) Click OK.

4) Restart your system.

5) Your firewall should now be up. Check it by going to the Control
Panel.
a) Double-click the Security Center Icon
b) The firewall section will be green and say "ON".

 

[Guest]

Ok, I have tried all of that in sequence. I go to look at my Security Center
and it has a green light but says Norton Internet Security is running. The
issue is I removed NIS about 18 months ago and have been using Win Firewall
since. Now just a couple days ago it shut off and I cannot get it to START
again. It is set to Auto and also to restart on the recovery tab. All the
dependencies are running also.

Not sure what else to do. I quess install Zone Alarm and leave it running
and just forget about WF. Could there be some Norton still in the computer? I
have done searches and can't find anything unless I am using the wrong search
words.

Any suggestions?

 

[Juan]

The Norton firewall service must be still running in the system for it to
interfere with the Windows Firewall. Look in the registry for Symantec,
Norton or NIS and delete it. Look in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ for the key(s) ... A
registry cleaner application may help, if not do a thorough search to delete
it manually.

-------------------------------

 

[Unk]

Ok, I have tried all of that in sequence. I go to look at my Security Center
and it has a green light but says Norton Internet Security is running. The
issue is I removed NIS about 18 months ago and have been using Win Firewall
since. Now just a couple days ago it shut off and I cannot get it to START
again. It is set to Auto and also to restart on the recovery tab. All the
dependencies are running also.

Not sure what else to do. I quess install Zone Alarm and leave it running
and just forget about WF. Could there be some Norton still in the computer? I
have done searches and can't find anything unless I am using the wrong search
words.

Any suggestions?

Norton Internet Security (NIS): "Rnis removal utility"
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/nis/RnisUPG.exe

Run regedit, and clean 2 entries:
1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Symantec
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec

Delete folders:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared
C:\Program Files\Symantec
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Symantec
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Symantec

Also run "Norton Removal tool" - Freeware
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Norton-Removal-Tool-Download-26173.html